070124 UE Guided Reading Global History - History of Humanitarian Aid (2024W)

Caring for people in need, for people suffering from war, famine, natural disaster, displacement, or devastation is a current and pressing matter in today´s world. This notion of urgency has characterized modern humanitarianism – aimed at alleviating human suffering in times of crisis – since its emergence in the 19th century. In this course, we will look at the history of humanitarian aid in the long 20th century from a global perspective. How did concepts and practices of humanitarian aid evolve over time? Who was defined as in need of aid? How did individuals and institutions shape the knowledge and techniques of aid, and how were these embedded in political and societal norms and power relations? How did the complex relationship between providers and beneficiaries of humanitarian aid unfold? How did humanitarian visions, experiences “on the ground,” and the perspectives of aid recipients correspond or collide?

The course will introduce you to different research approaches in the history of humanitarianism. We will read a variety of case studies on international humanitarian aid campaigns in the long 20th century, occasionally complemented with select source material. Apart from discussing source terms and analytical concepts, we will cover aspects like short-term and long-term engagement, transnational organizations, agency, body politics, expertise, media, gender, emotions, spaces, empire, and nation-building.

With an emphasis on peer-group exchange, the course focuses on structured and reflective reading. The aim is to familiarize you with approaches to critical text analysis. You will be able to summarize, analyze, discuss, and evaluate research literature both in writing and in oral discussion.